Alusuisse's 1998 Net Profit
Hit Record on 14% Surge

ZURICH -- Alusuisse Lonza Group AG reported a record 1998 result, with net profit rising 14% on the eve of the Swiss industrial company's merger with German conglomerate Viag AG.

"We are walking into this merger with record earnings, and so is Viag," said Alusuisse chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne at the company's annual news conference Friday. In 1998, Alusuisse's net profit increased to 530 million Swiss francs...